Island life! What can
be said about it? Relaxation, contemplation, and plan on spending a few more
dollars.
After a few false starts, I decided to take action and start
my journey once again. This time I would
not come back to Bangkok
until the end of my trip. Where did I
go? South! Many people warned me of the
rainy season and advised me not to go…but as the couple from England said my
first day “No matter what people say, first-hand experience is best”. I took a 12 ½ hour bus ride to Krabi that arrived
at 6am. Lost and without a plan I headed
to Ao Nang beach – the other two travelers were heading that way. Even though the beach was beautiful, people
sure do know how to mess up a good thing.
Tourist central! I stayed only
one day and got asked to buy a suit 30 times, souvenirs 16, and to book “tours”
every hour on the hour. My initial
reaction was to stay the night and get out…so for the remainder of the day I
rested at the beach and met some people.
Next was Ko Phi Phi, and island unlike any other
island. Pictures do not give it the
merit it deserves and although we try again and again, we still fall short of
its beauty. How was the weather? Sunny and hot! I booked my second “free”
hotel, and it just so happen to be at the very tip of the island…completely
isolated from the small town. In order
to save some money on transportation, I waited 4 hours until the last ferry
showed up and got a ride with them. I
met a very nice Spanish guy who was working for a dive company, coincidentally
the same guy who gave me the tip on getting to my hotel. He said that I must go see the beach at the
end of the island (a short 2 minute walk) and I did. AMAZING!
Ironically I was walking to buy my first beer and I hear a couple
talking in Spanish. They were from Puerto Rico…definitely a first in my travels. True authentic Puerto Ricans…and I must
admit, it was kind of awkward. But once we got to talking, drinking, and
enjoying the best scenery you can ask for, 3 hours had gone by and it felt like
15 minutes. At my hotel, the famous
Holiday Inn, I felt like I had to be with my newly married wife, because it was
only a destination for what it seemed like honeymooners’. I made the best of it and ordered myself a
beer and ate the free peanuts instead of buying dinner for a ridiculous
price. NEXT!
Although I wanted to stay in Ko Phi Phi, I knew there was
much to see and the beach I was at the day before did not seem to compel me to
stay. I went diving with the Spanish guy
I met the day before and was a bit nervous for I have not dove in many
years. I paid close attention to the
courses that were being given as I waited for the group to arrive, and felt a
bit reassured that it was not rocket science.
As expected, I remember quite quickly what needed to be done. Once in the water - we went to an artificial
reef followed by an area known for sharks (after lunch) - I saw basically all
the animals you would want to see (and some you wouldn’t) barracuda, moray
eel’s, lion fish, scorpion fish, blow fish, squid, turtles, a black tip shark
that swam past us…and most amazingly an underwater New York with an
insurmountable number of fish, colors, and jaw dropping beauty. It flowed and I could not help but submerse
myself in it. ha-ha
Then was Phucket, one of those places that do not get good
reviews by those who have just traveled from there. So I went!
I was hosted by a guy named Daniel who owned a bar in Patong (the
infamous red light district/street). In
the two days I stayed there I learned the trick to counting up to 100 and felt
excited and now being able to tell how much I am being charged for things (this
would come in handy when in rural places).
Besides sleeping all day and partying all night, I got a feel for what
it was like to be in such a place and also dug a bit deeper into the world of
prostitution and the reasons things are the way they are. In any case one should never judge others,
simply try to understand their situation.
Many travelers have a hard time digesting this part of Thailand and because
they hold on so strongly to their own countries values and beliefs, sometimes
insult or offend those who live here. In
any case, I had a pleasant time going from bar to bar and getting hit on my
women and also lady boys. Two of the
lady boy I saw were probably the better looking “girls” of the whole
street. As I pointed them out, Daniel
quickly raised the flag and told me they were lady boys…we then we to the lady
boy bar to compare and contrast between them and women. Fun times.
On to Ko Tao…or wait, Ko Samui? Even though I originally wanted to go to Ko
Tao, I ended up being convinced to go to Samui by the bartender working at
Daniel’s bar. After arriving I found out
why…you can get a girl for half the price.
Although I did not indulge in this seemingly easy luxury, I did find a
beach and although the accommodations where a bit pricey, I thought I would
stay a day or two to find the beauty of this island. I rented a motorbike and drove around the
island with some girls that I met and found that nothing on this island
compelled or motivated me to do anything.
Too many people, too touristy, too many buildings, too many cars…too
many toos’. I spend the day reading and
the last night before leaving my new friends and I celebrated at the nearest watering
hole with neon lights and couches in the beach, watching as the new comers
bought fireworks and lanterns which would turn into our entertainment for the
night.
Ko Tao, “you must go to Ko Tao!”(words of a friend back home)
was all I could think of. I was now
finally on my way…and trying not to get sea sick at the same time. A flight attendant in Samui suggested Ao
Tanot Bay for its beauty and said that the snorkeling was the best on the
island. The hook point for me was that
there was a rock you can jump off of into the water – my kind of
entertainment. I paid a high price for
the ride because not only was I a bit sick from the ride, but I was tired, and
really didn’t mind forking over 12 dollars for what should of cost 3. Mistake, yes…but something inside just said
PAY! and in the lonely planet book it said they charge higher prices because
they is no real road, so they need 4x4 vehicles to get there. Was it worth it? Hell yes!
I arrived to Poseidon Bungalows, and was greeted by a very welcoming
family (or so it seemed) making me feel like I was their first guest in
weeks. Each person had their own
intriguing characteristics and something else I could not quite pin point. I looked around at the simplicity of how the
place was built, very very rustic, saw the seemingly empty beach and
limestone’s and THE ROCK! Deal, I booked
a room. My hut was a smallish room,
bathroom, and balcony with a hammock…heaven.
I proceeded to walk down the beach to the end where I climbed on some
rocks and saw the fishes, go to the top of the highest rock and just sat there
contemplating my new home. After an hour
or so, headed back to the bungalow to get ready for my jump off the rock and on
my way asked two german girls what side do people jump off of (two new friends
who would be part of my dinner party).
After changing I started to swim towards the rocks and I felt my heart
start pumping a bit faster, got to the rock and noticed that it was not so easy
to get to the top. A rope swong down a
steep porous stone as if inviting those who dared to conquer it. Now I knew it…I was nervous. It’s funny to think that just the night
before I wrote down “trust in your abilities” in my journal. Now it was time to take my own advice. So I shook off what fear I could and tried
not to let it get the best of me. Doubting
myself was my first instinct but I had done my research (saw how deep it was
where one jumps) and knew that the only thing stopping me was myself. In a matter of seconds I was at the top…its interesting
to see how the body takes over once one stops to think. Now at the top there was only one more thing
to do, I skipped the beginner feet first and opted for the complete dive. Once I hit the water, I knew it….this was
truly Paradise! Tranquility, a bit of socialization, and
challenge! Every day I would jump off
the rock and bring those who dared go with me. I would explain to them how much of a mind
game it is and pretty soon I would no longer be jumping on my own. Success!
The first night I had dinner with the German girls Katya and
Sabrina, I noticed everyone looking around as if trying to catch another group’s
conversation. I remembered back in Ko
Chang how everyone had joined small clicks that were basically those who rode
in the same taxi to the bungalow. I
vowed to change that this time….after all in my paradise there are no clicks. The trick?
Be the first to sit down, and as people come in, invited them to join
your table…by the end of the night, it was one big circle of friends with the
only barrier being that of language. But
who needs that anyways, we were already use to using other ways to understand
the Thai people, why would other people be different.
Now you can see why it was hard to leave….but my journey
does not stop in Ko Tao….but hopefully I will be able to visit prior to my
departure back home.
